UKIP MEPs fail to back stronger EU anti-torture regulations

UKIP MEPs have failed to support the strengthening of legislation designed to ensure the European Union is not complicit in torture in a move described as a “new low” by Labour.

Despite opposition from UKIP MEPs, the European Parliament backed the legislation, which will make it easier for authorities to block the export of goods which may be used for torture

The stronger legislation will also bolster the ban on exporting drugs for use in lethal injections and enable the EU to fulfil its commitment to opposing the death penalty and torture across the world.

Commenting on the decision of UKIP MEPs to vote against the measure, Labour’s European Parliament spokesperson on the Anti-Torture Regulation, David Martin MEP, called it a “new low” for UKIP:

“This is a new low for UKIP. Refusing to close loopholes on the export of torture goods is indefensible.

“This legislation prevents European companies trading in torture equipment. UKIP’s attempts to block this simply because it is EU legislation is utterly shameful. Labour MEPs were proud to work on this update to the legislation to put the protection of human rights at the heart of EU trade policy.

“It is disgraceful but sadly not surprising to see UKIP and some Conservatives put their petty anti-Europeanism before human rights. Once again we are left wondering who they stand up for.”

Jude Kirton-Darling MEP, member of the European Parliament international trade committee, said UKIP had “shown their colours once more”:

“After many UKIP MEPs voted against the abolition of the death penalty in the last plenary session in Strasbourg, it is appalling that today they voted to let profiteering companies supplying oppressive regimes with equipment to torture and execute off the hook.”

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James King Ranson

OMG – For a start, just because you oppose something in principle doesn’t mean you should take a blanket approach to oppose every aspect of it. I suppose you want a 7 day working week with limited breaks, perhaps you’re happy to pay over inflated roaming charges when you travel (if you ever leave your precious Britain of course) and it’s clear that you are happy for instruments of torture to be disseminated throughout the world for the sole purpose of harming other human beings. I say other, sorry, you’re clearly not an actual member of the human race – pillock!

You’re putting politics into the same bracket as football. You’re like a United fan saying Suarez wasn’t amazing, or a City fan slagging off Ronaldo. Just because you don’t actually support something you can still look at parts of that thing and agree with those separately, it’s called being a grown up and being able to make your own decisions as oppose to blindly following Farrage – pillock!